22/05/2009 - Call to speed up tax repayments
Tax refunds for thousands of people across the country are being held up because of new security checks introduced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), an accountancy firm has said.
UHY Hacker Young said that several of its clients were waiting for rebates of more than £500,000 from HMRC.
The delays were causing serious financial problems for small businesses and individuals already distressed by the recession, it said.
The random security checks have led, in some cases, to last-minute blocking of repayments that were already made into online accounts. And some others have had to chase up their refunds for several months before receiving them.
The firm said the hold-up was unfair because the taxpayers would neither get any interest on the money they are owed nor compensation from HMRC for the delays.
It added that the team set up within the government department to carry out the security checks seemed to be "inadequately resourced".
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has also urged HMRC to address the issue, saying it had received similar complaints from several of its members.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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